I love credit cards so much!

[Albort]

Thanks, Albort. So citi will ask me to upload it or something? Sorry for all the questions.

i would think u fill it out on some application form on citibank website. haha. im not sure. both times i went to open an account in branch.

 

[jhoannam]

That's what I'm anticipating too. I'm at 28 nights with Marriott from 15 CC anniversary nights and 13 rollover nights. I have 4 nights (3 paid OOP, 1 free ecert night) coming up shortly, and I should get 10 nights from SPG when they combine in August, so I'll be at 42 nights by August.

Remember that award nights count towards elite status too, so if you have award nights planned those will go toward your count. I won't reach 50 nights by August, but have a 7 nt award planned in November so that will bring me up to 49 nights and I'll just need to get one more night before Dec. 31 2018 to get platinum status through Feb 2020. It's kind of funny, out of those 49 nights I will have only paid for 3 nights, the rest came from CC or award stays. Either I'll do a mattress run or spend $3000 on my (old) Marriott card for #50, I'm thinking for me the mattress run would be cheapest.

So I think the cheapest way to get to 50, if you have the points, is firstly to book award nights, then secondly try to find cheap mattress runs to squeeze into long weekends. I'd love to hear any other suggestions too.

I’ve seen SPG properties for 2k points/night, that would be a fairly inexpensive mattress run.

 

[jhoannam]

Quoting myself for an update...
I got an email saying it is all complete...yet the points are still not showing at marriott. View attachment 325935

I would give it a couple hours and then call.

 

[DaveL]

This was what I found in my Amazon address book from my last order:

• My Name-Guest Arrive 8/18
• C/O DISNEY POP CENTURY RESORT
• 1050 CENTURY DR
• LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL 32830-8433
• United States
• Phone number: ###-###-####

As @wendow already noted, for cold and perishable items, they are good about using dry ice packs, so everything is nice and cool. And the bag is noted by Amazon as "perishable" or "refrigerate", so bell services knows. After we arrived, and before we even called bell services to ask if we can come pick it up, they were already on their way up to our room to deliver it

Just remember in the delivery instructions to note specifically you want it delivered to bell services to avoid the fee the front desk would charge to hold packages

ETA: I didn't put on res # because it's such a specific detail that I don't need too many people to have it. Paranoid perhaps, but someone mentioned that and I agreed that I don't need people having access to my name, phone # and res #, so I used arrival date, and it worked fine for me.

Thanks for the info! This was strange, I clicked Like on your post and was taken to another page that asked me if I was sure I wanted to like the post..... That's new...

 

[1st*toright]

Quoting myself for an update...
I got an email saying it is all complete...yet the points are still not showing at marriott. View attachment 325935

I feel like I've had that same issue, where it took like an hour for the transfer to show up. That said, I just did a transfer and it has already shown up in my Marriott account (like 2 minutes later). If you have the confirmation and stuff, I'd give it an hour or so and then check again. Just the kind of advice you wouldn't be able to get from anywhere else, I know. Sorry not to be more helpful

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I would give it a couple hours and then call.

OK, so oddly they show up if I sign in from the nights/flight package page, but not on the regular marriott page. So I try to choose the package on the N/F page and it gives me a popup. Says select quantity but there is nothing to click. I have tried 2 different browsers. This is eating up too much of my time. I guess I will have to call to buy it.

 

[pillow]

For those of you that got the Marriott Personal, Business & SPG personal this year. And are at 32 Marriott nights and 10 SPG nights (2, 5 night stays). Does that mean we will have 42 Marriott nights once the program combines? Will we only be 8 nights short of Platinum Elite? If so, have any of you figured out the easiest, most cost efficient way of getting those nights?

I have to book 4 more nights this year, I'll make sure to stay at Marriott properties but I still need a cheap way of getting to 50.

I'm in a similar boat and working on this. For every $3k you spend on your Marriott card, you get 1 elite night (I have the business card but I think its the same for the personal version). I ran the numbers multiple times, and this is the easiest/cheapest way for me to do it. Mattress runs cost more - even at the cheapest properties. I referred both kids (adults but not sure it matters) and both parents to Plastiq so got a bunch of fee free dollars from that (plus the kids are auth users on my Marriott card so worked well to have them use their own FFD). I moved some of DH's Plastiq spend (CIP) over to my account to pay with the Marriott card. I'm also planning to open a few bank accounts and fund with the Marriott card. Anyway, I need 9 nights, so $27K spend. Its a lot of spend for me, but I think I can do it. I'm pretty much in a holding pattern anyway, waiting to get back under 5/24.

Side note - I'm still trying to figure out when the elite night posts to your Marriott account. I THINK its in the month after your statement closes. I'm still waiting for my last one to post, so I'll confirm here when it does.

 

[SBWB48]

That would be awesome. I do wonder if someone else might have one already, I know there are several of you who are so good at it!



I don't have any of those options, darn, but I am employed, and it might be a pain, but I could set up a new direct deposit. I would only have to do one, correct?
Also on Chase, am I reading right that you have to leave the $15k in savings for 90 days? And the direct deposit doesn't need to be in there by the expiration of the offer, just within 60 days of opening the account?

Also on Discover, am I reading that right, that you can deposit some funds, then take them out and deposit again, until you hit the level of deposits needed for the bonus? And does that need to be done before the offer expires, or just the account needs to be open before the offer expires?

Sorry for so many questions LOL!!

I've done both the Chase and Discover ones - just got my bonus on the chase one - it posted 3 days after 90 days from the last deposit I made that got me to $15k in the account, so yes, you need to have the $15k sit for 90 days. Not sure re. the direct deposit timing, I had a direct deposit well before either the expiration on my offer or 60 days.

I've read the same datapoint on Discover about being able to withdraw and re-deposit. I think the fine print said you had to meet the requirements by a specific date (I think it was 6.18 or so), so not the date of the offer expriation, but fairly quick.

I'm happy about the Discover one because it seems like you need to park the $$$ for less time - means I can move on to the next one more quickly

For Discover, there is usually a date noted on the offer where you have to make the required deposit requirement by. I believe it's usually 2 weeks following the expiration of the offer, but I have seen this vary depending on which code or time of the offer. It is noted specifically, though, so just take note depending on when you apply. Because the window can be small and Discover also had 'holds' on your funds sometimes, it can be tricky if you try to deposit and withdraw a few times to make the cumulative deposit requirement. It's a lot less stressful if you don't have to sweat out transferring, but I think 1-2 should be fine. I remember Discover noted the funds weren't available after deposit for 3-4 days sometimes, again, which may take you close to the expiry.

As for the Chase checking, the DD just needs to be posted within 60 days from account opening, not the expiration of the offer itself. My DD was for $25 from an M&T account I previously opened. The bonus posted the following Tuesday, which is consistent with what others have said, after my DD posted, sometimes it could be delayed by a week if your DD was on a Friday for example. When it comes to the Chase savings @1st*toright covered it. Mine is still in the midst of the 90 day period, but I expect it to post soon and it's comforting to know that @1st*toright got it 3 days after the 90 day window. I'll be transferring all but $300 of that 15K once it posts to keep it fee-free until I can close it 3 months down the road. Likewise with the checking, but it's $1,500 min to keep it fee-free.

I’d be excited if MPX goes back to coding 5x on the Amex Plats! But that doesn’t look like it’ll happen.

So even though this is good news, I’ll still have to weigh which of the following 3 options gives me the best return or savings for buying gift cards:

1. MPX for a 3x UR category bonus in dining and travel (CSR) or a 5x UR category bonus for office supply stores (CIC) + x UA miles depending on merchant + 0.25x UA miles bonus for having a linked United card;

2. Gyft and Swych through PayPal checkout (CIC) for 5x UR on any merchant, or from office supply stores for 5x UR (CIC) on all physical gift cards; or

3. Buying discounted gift cards from PayPal Digital Gifts/eBay or resell marketplaces like Raise. (ETA: Raise has Apple Pay checkout and eBay has PayPal checkout, which factors in when they’re Freedom 5x UR categories.)

If MPX goes back to coding "properly" on the Amex Plat, I would be with my Plat on the way. That would make the MSR that much easier... one can hope

You can also use Paypal through the Raise app

 

[elgerber]

For Discover, there is usually a date noted on the offer where you have to make the required deposit requirement by. I believe it's usually 2 weeks following the expiration of the offer, but I have seen this vary depending on which code or time of the offer. It is noted specifically, though, so just take note depending on when you apply. Because the window can be small and Discover also had 'holds' on your funds sometimes, it can be tricky if you try to deposit and withdraw a few times to make the cumulative deposit requirement. It's a lot less stressful if you don't have to sweat out transferring, but I think 1-2 should be fine. I remember Discover noted the funds weren't available after deposit for 3-4 days sometimes, again, which may take you close to the expiry.

As for the Chase checking, the DD just needs to be posted within 60 days from account opening, not the expiration of the offer itself. My DD was for $25 from an M&T account I previously opened. The bonus posted the following Tuesday, which is consistent with what others have said, after my DD posted, sometimes it could be delayed by a week if your DD was on a Friday for example. When it comes to the Chase savings @1st*toright covered it. Mine is still in the midst of the 90 day period, but I expect it to post soon and it's comforting to know that @1st*toright got it 3 days after the 90 day window. I'll be transferring all but $300 of that 15K once it posts to keep it fee-free until I can close it 3 months down the road. Likewise with the checking, but it's $1,500 min to keep it fee-free.

Thank you!!! I think I need to create a spreadsheet if I do this, to keep dates straight and remember which accounts I took the funds from to fund these!

 

[miztressuz]

I don't have any of those options, darn, but I am employed, and it might be a pain, but I could set up a new direct deposit. I would only have to do one, correct?
Correct. Our DD come on a Friday, the bonus posted into the checking account the following Tues. You could stop DD after that if you wanted.
Also on Chase, am I reading right that you have to leave the $15k in savings for 90 days?
Correct. We're getting close ourselves, within the next 2 weeks will be our 90 days, and all reports have been it posts the next Tues. You have 10 business days to get the 15k into the account. Has to be new money, can't come from another Chase account. I think the clock starts once the 15k is deposited, we'll find out soon
And the direct deposit doesn't need to be in there by the expiration of the offer, just within 60 days of opening the account?
Correct. The account just has be opened within the offer period, then your 60 days starts from that date. We opened the account almost the last day of the offer and got the DD completed within 30.

Just another datapoint inline above, we did this Chase offer when it popped up in March.

 

[jhoannam]

I'm in a similar boat and working on this. For every $3k you spend on your Marriott card, you get 1 elite night (I have the business card but I think its the same for the personal version). I ran the numbers multiple times, and this is the easiest/cheapest way for me to do it. Mattress runs cost more - even at the cheapest properties. I referred both kids (adults but not sure it matters) and both parents to Plastiq so got a bunch of fee free dollars from that (plus the kids are auth users on my Marriott card so worked well to have them use their own FFD). I moved some of DH's Plastiq spend (CIP) over to my account to pay with the Marriott card. I'm also planning to open a few bank accounts and fund with the Marriott card. Anyway, I need 9 nights, so $27K spend. Its a lot of spend for me, but I think I can do it. I'm pretty much in a holding pattern anyway, waiting to get back under 5/24.

Side note - I'm still trying to figure out when the elite night posts to your Marriott account. I THINK its in the month after your statement closes. I'm still waiting for my last one to post, so I'll confirm here when it does.

We have been meeting MSR the last 6 months, and I have a few more cards we want to get so I don’t know if I’ll be able to go that route.
I have 24 hours to decide if I want to buy 10k SPG points and do 5 nights at the 2k property for $230.
How much are the Platiq fees on $27k?

 

[SBWB48]

Thank you!!! I think I need to create a spreadsheet if I do this, to keep dates straight and remember which accounts I took the funds from to fund these!

A spreadsheet definitely helps since unlike CCs, worst case is you miss the sign-up bonus, but with bank bonuses, it can cost you in terms of monthly fees sometimes.

Now, I stress this, but then don't do so myself lol I check my accounts religiously, so the spreadsheet I originally started is still blank .

As you start to churn the bank bonuses, I'll probably have to actually start using a spreadsheet to keep track of which ones are eligible to reapply for

 

[elgerber]

A spreadsheet definitely helps since unlike CCs, worst case is you miss the sign-up bonus, but with bank bonuses, it can cost you in terms of monthly fees sometimes.

Now, I stress this, but then don't do so myself lol I check my accounts religiously, so the spreadsheet I originally started is still blank .

As you start to churn the bank bonuses, I'll probably have to actually start using a spreadsheet to keep track of which ones are eligible to reapply for

I'd love to two player these bonuses, but holy smokes, the deposit requirements are a bit steep. Discover maybe, since you can take the funds right back out, but Chase...yikes!

 

[pillow]

I’ve seen SPG properties for 2k points/night, that would be a fairly inexpensive mattress run.

My thinking is the 2K SPG/6K Marriott is worth roughly $54 (according to TPG valuations = Marriott at .009), so thats your cost if you mattress run.

Versus spending $3k on the Marriott cards EARNS me $3k Marriott points, which is worth $27 (using same TPG valuation). If you could have put that $3K spend on a 2% cash back card, then your "cost" would be $60 for that, so net $33 cost. In this scenario, the mattress run costs more.

It really comes down to what you would have done with that $3k spend. I know many are always working on MSR's and would cringe at putting this much on a Marriott card when they could be meeting MSR on something new. I'm in a holding pattern though until back under 5/24, so I'm putting all non-category spend on the Marriott card + trying to MS the rest.

 

[pillow]

We have been meeting MSR the last 6 months, and I have a few more cards we want to get so I don’t know if I’ll be able to go that route.
I have 24 hours to decide if I want to buy 10k SPG points and do 5 nights at the 2k property for $230.
How much are the Platiq fees on $27k?

You and I were posting at the same time. Yeah - if trying to meet MSR, that would be rough. Plastiq fees on $27K would be $675 - a TON! I'm only using Plastiq till my fee free dollars are gone. Maybe you could do a combination of both.

 

[1st*toright]

My thinking is the 2K SPG/6K Marriott is worth roughly $54 (according to TPG valuations = Marriott at .009), so thats your cost if you mattress run.

Versus spending $3k on the Marriott cards EARNS me $3k Marriott points, which is worth $27 (using same TPG valuation). If you could have put that $3K spend on a 2% cash back card, then your "cost" would be $60 for that, so net $33 cost. In this scenario, the mattress run costs more.

It really comes down to what you would have done with that $3k spend. I know many are always working on MSR's and would cringe at putting this much on a Marriott card when they could be meeting MSR on something new. I'm in a holding pattern though until back under 5/24, so I'm putting all non-category spend on the Marriott card + trying to MS the rest.

The year I made platinum I was putting everything I could think of on my Marriott card to get me to those last couple of nights. Also, sometimes Marriott gives you a free elite night for your birthday - I got one last year, but it seems hit or miss, so I'm not counting on getting it to get me to 50 this year. I don't currently have at Marriott card (got rid of my old one just before all the Starriott change stuff blew up, since I was going to be too far from hitting elite status this year and didn't want to pay the annual fee). I am thinking of picking up the new Marriott card as my next card - mostly 'cause I'm eligible for the bonus again, but the ability to earn some elite nights while hitting a MSR is pretty tempting!

Edit - never mind, seems that the new Marriott card may not have the 1 night per 3k spend benefit.

 

[jhoannam]

My thinking is the 2K SPG/6K Marriott is worth roughly $54 (according to TPG valuations = Marriott at .009), so thats your cost if you mattress run.

Versus spending $3k on the Marriott cards EARNS me $3k Marriott points, which is worth $27 (using same TPG valuation). If you could have put that $3K spend on a 2% cash back card, then your "cost" would be $60 for that, so net $33 cost. In this scenario, the mattress run costs more.

It really comes down to what you would have done with that $3k spend. I know many are always working on MSR's and would cringe at putting this much on a Marriott card when they could be meeting MSR on something new. I'm in a holding pattern though until back under 5/24, so I'm putting all non-category spend on the Marriott card + trying to MS the rest.

hmmm... it's probably too late but would it be faster to MSR on the SPG card, and do a couple mattress runs at 2K SPG properties?

 

[jhoannam]

I think the business version still has the benefit.

The year I made platinum I was putting everything I could think of on my Marriott card to get me to those last couple of nights. Also, sometimes Marriott gives you a free elite night for your birthday - I got one last year, but it seems hit or miss, so I'm not counting on getting it to get me to 50 this year. I don't currently have at Marriott card (got rid of my old one just before all the Starriott change stuff blew up, since I was going to be too far from hitting elite status this year and didn't want to pay the annual fee). I am thinking of picking up the new Marriott card as my next card - mostly 'cause I'm eligible for the bonus again, but the ability to earn some elite nights while hitting a MSR is pretty tempting!

Edit - never mind, seems that the new Marriott card may not have the 1 night per 3k spend benefit.

 

[pillow]

hmmm... it's probably too late but would it be faster to MSR on the SPG card, and do a couple mattress runs at 2K SPG properties?

I considered that. There are only 4 category 1 SPG hotels in the U.S. If you live close to one, you are LUCKY!

Edited - I also had a hard time finding category 1 Marriotts.

 

[jhoannam]

I considered that. There are only 4 category 1 SPG hotels in the U.S. If you live close to one, you are LUCKY!

Edited - I also had a hard time finding category 1 Marriotts.

The one I found is in Kansas City, MO. We are going to the Taylor Swift concert there later this year and fount that awesome rate. I’m going to book 2 nights there at that rate. Leaving me with 6 nights. But I also have 6 months to get it done.